Welcome home, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

A soldier who was captured five years ago by the Taliban was released Saturday. Hooah! He was released today after the government traded him for five Guantánamo Bay detainees. He was handed over to US special forces today. Here’s the nut graf from Stars and Stripes.

Bergdahl, 28, of Hailey, Idaho, went missing in June 2009 in Paktika province of southeastern Afghanistan while serving with a unit of the 25th Infantry Division from Fort Richardson, Alaska. President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday that Bergdahl’s release “is a reminder of America’s unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield.”

The exchange was made in person with Taliban and Green Berets. Apparently, US copters hovered overhead as the terse exchange happened. I can’t imagine the sight of seeing these two heavily armed groups within arm’s reach and then Bergdahl walking towards US lines.

Author: Andy Kravetz

Andy Kravetz has spent most of the past 16 years covering the area's legal system as well as the military. in that time, he's crawled in the mud, flown in transport planes, and written about a man prosecuted for terrorism. This blog will reflect all those interests and then some.
View all posts by Andy Kravetz